The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Grand Valley State University has received a grant to lead two Rural-Focused Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship training programs.

The $30,375 grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program, will help implement workshops that spur enterprise development and job creation in communities across Isabella and Bay counties. The programs will connect entrepreneurs to economic development resources, technology and startup training to help them commercialize their products and ideas.

“There is great economic potential in the state’s agricultural sector,” said Julie Cowie, project manager for Sprout Lab in Grand Valley’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “Our partnership will identify and support Michigan’s agricultural innovators to explore commercialization of their tools, prototypes and concepts.”

Cowie said the program offers practical lean startup tools and connections to Michigan’s entrepreneur ecosystem.

For more information, contact Grand Valley’s Center for Entrepreneurship at (616) 331-7582.